Circuit-controlling device



Patented Dec. 6, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,651,397 yPariez-*1aT orales.

ALBERTB" LEWELLEN, OFIDETROIT,.MICHIGAN,.ASSIGNOR T0 GENERAL r.LVIO'JOIRS COR- PORATIONyOF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Applcationled June 14, 1923. Serial{blk-1.13453325` 'steering wheel and which will havea 'minimum number of parts projectingabove the lplane 'of thesteering wheel.

From thispoint ol view the invention may 'bei regarded as comprising a Contact member 'which lextends through the steering wheel,

as for `example at its hub, on opposite sides 'ofthesteering'post to which the wheel is attached. rllhis Contact memberis movable in '-afdirection parallel to the axis ot' the steering wheelfinto/engagement with the stationary contact member Vsupported below the steering wheel. In order that: the closing ot' thecircuit shall `not be dependent on any particular angular position of the steering wheel, either the `stationary contact member or the bott-omet the movable member is in annular vform7 preferably the stationary member being irl-annular formand-surrounding but spaced from the steering post. In the form shown in the drawings thisannular 'contact member is secured 'to but insulated from the usual sleeve which surrounds and protects the steering post.

Otherl objects and features of the invention, including novel combinations ot parts and desirable particular constructions, will be vapparenttrom'the following description of three illustrative embodiments of my invention Yshown in the `accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view rpartly in side elevation-andpartly in vert-icalsection of a steering post assembly embodying the novel con. trolling device;

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the contact parts of the device separately from the rest of the steering post assembly;

.Figure 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of contact device;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to the upper part of Figure 1 and showing the mounting of the contact device ot Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4, but showing a modified form of contact device.

In the modication shown in Figures 19 2 and 3 the steering post assembly'comprises a rotatable steering post 10 tapered lat its upper end and fastened. in the hub 12 ot a steering wheel having spolzes14 carrying Ya rim of any suitable type. The rotatable shaft or post 10 is protected by a'stationary enclosing 'sleeve' 1G.

The novel controlling device is -shown'as 'embodied 'ina horn button having a depressible cap 18 flared outwardly near its-lower end to tit within a housing 2O secured toitlie hub 12 by means ot tap screws 22 or inany other suitable manner7 the vhousing serving to limit outward movement of the cap `18 under the influence ol a spring `24. The spring 24 engages a disc or head v26 ot' such a size as to litwithin the ilared portion of `the cap 18 to push the cap outwardas far as permitted by the housing 20, and to'be operated inwardly to compress thespring by depression o1 the cap 18. The disc 2G Ais notched atv opposite sidesfto receivca -U- shaped contact'member 287 whichihas legs sliding in 'grooves or holes formed in the hub 1201"V the steering wheel and across portion which is clampedlby thefspring '24 between the disc 26 andthellared portion otthecap 18 as will be apparent trom-Figure 1. rlhe lower ends f of vthe legs ot the contactimember 28 are, in'their idle position, spaced slightly above an annular contact member 30 stationarily fastened tothe sleevel by means otscrews 32. Thean- `enlarged head foreach screw 32 andy two Vor more smaller insulating washers36 which insulate each screw` 32 from the sleeve 16 and which serve to space the annular member 30 from the sleeve. The steering post 10 passes through a central hole 38 of such a diameter that the post does not engage the contact member. The contact member 30 is connected to the circuit of any desired electrically-controlled device, such as a signaling horn, by an insulated conductor 40 having an end portion clamped under one ot the screws 32, which screw thus serves as a binding post to form an electric connection between the contact member 30 and the conductor 40.

It will be observed that in the illustrated arrangement the contact member 28 serves as a ground, as it is not insulated from the hub of the steering wheel, or trom the steering post 10 or the sleeve 1.6, both ot which are in electrical connection with the hub. Thus depression ot the cap 18 to bring` the contact members 28 and 2O together to close the circuit trom the conductor Jv't0 to the ground provided by the metal parts ot the steering post assembly.

In the modification shown in Figures il and It, in lieu et the housing 20, the cap which corresponds to cap 18 is centrally perforated to be slidable on a retaining screw 52 arranged axially ot a spring which correspondsl to spring 2a. In l modii'ication the contact member wl is corresponds to the member 28 is bent upon itself at its central portion' to 'form a head seating against the cap 50 which takes the place ot the dise 26. rllhis head formed in such a. manner as to leave a central. opening 58 through which the screw and the retaining part ot the housing 50 may pass. The contact member 5G is clamped against the housing 50 by the springY which engages the bottom side or the head lor-ined in this manner.

In the modification shown in Figure 5. the conductor i0 is clamped under a binding screw 8O which insulated 'trom sleeve 16 and which carries a contact member 82. The cooperating contact member has legs sliding in holes in the hub of the steering wheel and connected by an annular portion 8G lintegral therewith or lixedly secured thereto.

The upper ends ot legs 84 are bent outward ly and snap into depressions or sockets in a cap 88 which is urged outwardlyv by a spring 90, in such a manner as to be operated by movement ot the cap. In Figure 5 the parts are shown with the circuit closed, cap 88 being depressed.

lVhile several illustrative embodiments have been described, it is not my intention to limit its scope to those embodiments, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims. lVhile especially well adapted lor such use, the invention is not, in all ot its aspects, necessarily limited to use with an automobile steering column, except where so speciied in particular claims.

I claim:

l. A controlling device comprising, in combination, a non-rotatable sleeve; a rotatable steering wheel arranged adjacent the upper end of said sleeve; a stationary contact member carried by and insulated from and arranged within said sleeve, and located adjacent the upper end thereof below said steering wheel; a grounded reciprocating Contact member extending trom above said steering wheel through the same and movable angularly therewith, and comprising two legs extending into said sleeve, and an annular portieri connecting the lower ends ot said legs with one another; and a cap connected with the upper ends ot said legs tor depressing said contact member to cause the annular portion aforesaid to engage said stav tionary contact member.

2. A mechanism ot the character described, comprising a steering column, a steering post therein, and a steering wheel on the post, a lined contact projecting through the column, a movable contact encircling the post, outwardly tensioned arms tired to the movable contact, and a spring held button coupled to the arms by reason ot' the outward tension thereof.

A device of the character described, embodying a steering column, a steering post, and a steering wheel on the post, an insulating sleeve secured in the column, a. lixed contact supported in the sleeve, a movable contact member' encircling the post, a cup shaped button above the post, a coiled spring interposed between the button and the post, arms on the movable contact member located between the postand the column, and outwardly projecting fingers on the arms engaging the button.

4t. rlhe combination with a steering column, a steering wheel on the column, and a steering post in the column, and projecting through the wheel, ot a lined contact pro jecting through the column, a spring pressed button on the post, and a contact encircling the post and provided with arms secured tothe button.

In testimony whereof I a'hx my signature.

ALBERT R. LEVELLEN. 

